A consortium of Linux providers including Connectiva, SCO Group, SuSE, and Turbolinux last week launched a jointly developed operating system called UnitedLinux 1.0, which each vendor will use as the core for its own new products. There will be little difference among the vendors' offerings, senior Yankee Group analyst Laura DiDio says, but customers must do their homework to find the best deals on tech support, services, and training.